<p>Plain HDB windows? Pfft. Here are some ways homeowners in Singapore are jazzing them up without ripping them out.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Dichroic film</strong></h3><p>A simple storage window settee already makes this spot extra cosy, but the real game-changer is the dichroic film on the lower panes. Instead of plain glass, the windows now filter in shifting shades of pink and blue, instantly turning a standard HDB frame into a statement feature.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1458/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/92a4d26b-ebe8-42f5-9de0-9651218c9e24-blob" width="1458" height="1824"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1234/1645;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/7a825370-8231-4568-b50f-df362dfdf03d-blob" width="1234" height="1645"></figure><p>Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/buildbuilt">BuildBuilt</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Timber panels + frosted glass</strong></h3><p>To complete the look of a modern ryokan, this 5-room flat features shoji-inspired sliding timber windows with frosted glass, letting the homeowners adjust light, airflow, and privacy. Besides softening natural sunlight and subtly obscuring neighbouring flats, there’s hardly a hint of a standard BTO here.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1025;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/2cceb658-5e8b-44e6-ade4-e8933e3eccdd-blob" width="1824" height="1025"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1425/950;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/f878f951-1517-4926-930a-8f436760f551-blob" width="1425" height="950"></figure><p>Design: Goy Architects</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Indoor garden</strong></h3><p>To fulfil the homeowner’s wish for a space to grow their own herbs and veggies in their 5-room flat, the designer turned the living room’s wall-to-wall windows into a ‘window farm’. With a slim wooden frame, rows of planters, and a pair of cushioned bay seats, the once-standard windows now double as a sunny spot for kang kong, cherry tomatoes, and lazy afternoon lounging.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1000/667;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/11bb807e-3e93-4d86-bbe9-336ae0b88961-blob" width="1000" height="667"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1280;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/46c0ea31-ee8e-4ec7-827f-cb53507d6b51-blob" width="1920" height="1280"></figure><p>Images: AO Studios</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Arch</strong></h3><p>In this supersized bedroom at Pinnacle@Duxton, limewashed walls and soft daylight give resort-like vibes, but it is the sweeping curved arch by the windows that really takes pride of place. By framing and concealing the standard HDB window frames, the space feels more like a serene suite than a typical flat.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1280/1920;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/b8b56ef1-a87a-4273-a03d-b220a28aa22f-blob" width="1280" height="1920"></figure><p>Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/the-local-inn.terior">The Local Inn.terior</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Sliding panels</strong></h3><p>In this west-facing 2-room flat for a retiree, custom sliding panels transform the standard HDB windows. Inspired by Japanese shoji screens, they soften harsh sunlight and keep the heat at bay. Close them fully, and the flat is plunged into complete darkness, letting the homeowner sleep soundly without any disturbance.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1215;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/aa0f6d70-2780-4c5a-aaed-76b95b56d215-blob" width="1824" height="1215"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1824/1215;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/2abd97bc-7392-4776-8243-5cebce532388-blob" width="1824" height="1215"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1279;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/5a15d899-aee6-47bd-ba99-2d15755d74d8-blob" width="1920" height="1279"></figure><p>Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/dphenomenal">D’Phenomenal</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Storage solutions</strong></h3><p>In this Bukit Batok flat, clean-lined wooden shelves over the windows do more than display the homeowners’ favourite mementos, they cleverly disguise the standard HDB windows so they now serve as the communal area’s focal point, all without having to sacrifice wind or natural light.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1500/1000;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/cce96a69-9087-4474-a948-77703845ac26-blob" width="1500" height="1000"></figure><p>Design: Goy Architects</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Concave ceiling</strong></h3><p>Instead of building a full arch over the window, the designer added a gentle concave curve in the ceiling. It not only creates the illusion of a taller flat, but also subtly shifts the perception of the space, drawing attention away from the plain HDB windows.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/801;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/04aa8f89-b898-4eda-8273-1a4495b3e9fc-blob" width="1200" height="801"></figure><p>Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/uno-interior">Uno Interior</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Wooden shutters</strong></h3><p>Rather than going with blinds or curtains, wooden shutters were used for the HDB corridor window here. They provide the same sunshading and privacy benefits, but also completely change the feel of the flat, adding warmth and texture while making the windows feel more like a designed feature.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:758/500;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/8d177a0f-95c1-4e12-b8b0-faaae33edc77-blob" width="758" height="500"></figure><p>Design: Artistroom</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Faux arched window</strong></h3><p>This standard HDB window was dressed with a small faux arch, adding a touch of elegance without any major construction. The gentle curve softens the frame and echoes the curves found elsewhere in the communal spaces, giving the window a refined, customised look while keeping the overall design simple and functional.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:843/562;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/3dc2fb5b-d0c8-446c-9692-b576578fd4dd-blob" width="843" height="562"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1279;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/c30318d5-6c74-4821-a08f-ebc64db02213-blob" width="1920" height="1279"></figure><p>Design: <a href="https://www.renonation.sg/professional/ovon-design">Ovon Design</a></p>

How to Make HDB/BTO Windows Look Less Basic (No Replacement Needed)

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